The synchronicity of a much needed good British Summer following the
troubles with George Bush killing the innocent civilians of Iraq gave the
Cosmic Rough Riders their first Top 40 hit with "Because You". It embellished
the spirit of summer through 3 part harmonies and the breezy guitar pop
which fellow Scots Teenage Fanclub, Astrid and Travis have based their
own careers on for so long. Most of all it was a record with no baggage
- no teenage angst, no political agenda - just a simple record about the
long stay of pop lyricism - L.O.V.E.

This of course happened the Sunday after the gig at the Roadhouse when
they were recalling the days of a chart entry at number 76 which missed
out on a Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles by just one place. The Riders,
as they will now be known, are a band who create the most beautiful melodies,
but are blessed with the sort of faces which immediately say child spitting
the dummy. It's a psychologists dream scenario where they can actually
get their teeth into a subject whose outward appearance suggests that of
a severe depressive, but whose outlook on life is forever positive. Stephen
Fleming who wrote much of the bands 3rd album "Too Close To See Far" is
very much the caricature of a story telling Scot where every song requires
an anecdote and while it's endearing to start with you wish they'd just
let the music speak for itself.

"Justify The Rain" introduces itself as a subdued cousin of Cast's "Fine
Time" before making it's own mark as a driving record made for pulling
the top down and cruising country lanes. "For A Smile" matches Travis note
for note and if it wasn't so familiar it could be the bands breakthrough
radio hit. The band don't veer too far from their blueprint and that ultimately
poses a problem for anyone but the hard-core contingency. There's only
so many prozac laced 3 minute pop gems you can take before it all becomes
a little too sickly sweet and whereas a band like Astrid had the cute boy
next door look to distract you and Travis were never afraid to rock out
their debut album, the Riders can only dip into a back catalogue of singles
which is much the same. I love the bands music and the way the crowd could
double up as extras from Chewin The Fat, but it's that sugary sweet i'm
still worrying about my blood sugars.